Glenn Guerriero: All in the Attitude

“From the day we opened the salon, we’ve been a very busy salon,” says Glenn Guerriero about Brooklyn Attitude Hair & Body which, despite its name, is located in Saratoga Springs, NY. “But it has taken a toll.”

It’s been 20 years since Guerriero and his wife MaryAnn took their Brooklyn grit and high energy out of the borough and into to the scenic upstate resort town. They opened the salon in 2003 on the strength of their lifelong dedicated to education and innovation. The two have studied with Yosh Toya, Martin Parsons, Nick Arrojo, Michael O’Rourke, Frederic Fekkai and other top designers, and the salon was named the Saratogian People’s Choice as “Best Hair Salon” for 2010.

When Glenn Guerriero refers to the “toll” that the success has taken, he’s referring to the physical demands of many hours behind the chair and in front of practice mannequins. MaryAnn has had carpal tunnel surgery and a knee replacement, while Glenn has had pain in his shoulder, legs and back.

“I grew up in the ’70s, when guys from Brooklyn were fixtures at the gym,” recalls Glenn, who continued the tradition even after moving to Saratoga Springs. Once he and MaryAnn opened the salon, however, he became so busy that something had to give, and he stopped working out. Two years ago his ailments grew so painful that he thought he’d get back into the gym habit. It worked! He says he’s in better shape at 53 than he was at 51, and has more energy, too.

“If I keep this up,” he jokes “I’m hoping by the time I hit 80 to look the way I did when I was in my 20s!”

The salon is as busy as ever, so how does he do it? He books an hour a day for himself five or six days a week—typically between 11am and noon.

“I change clothes,” he explains, “exit out the back door, drive two minutes to the gym, work out 20 to 25 minutes, get back to salon, change out of my gym clothes, spray cologne and I”m ready to work!”

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